Former conservation district administrator sentenced to federal prison for stealing grant funds

KALAMAZOO - The former administrator of the Calhoun Conservation District was sentenced Monday to more than three years in federal prison.

Tracy Bronson, 57, of Marshall, was sentenced in federal District Court in Kalamazoo by Judge Paul Maloney to 37 months in prison and three years supervised release. She also was ordered to repay $573,159.20 to the conservation district and its insurance carrier.

Bronson will be ordered to report to a federal prison in the next few weeks.

She was indicted in February on five counts of theft from programs receiving federal funds and prosecutors alleged she took the money between January 2014 and August 2017. She left her position in August 2017.

Prosecutors alleged that of the total amount taken, $466,000 was federal grant money. They said she wrote 400 unauthorized checks to herself and used the conservation district's credit card for personal expenses, and created fake monthly account statements which were provided to the agency's board of directors.

On April 13 she pleaded guilty to one count and faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison but was given three years within the range recommended by the federal sentencing guidelines.

Her attorney, J. Thomas Schaeffer said his client has a gambling addiction and used the stolen money at Firekeepers Casino in Emmett Township.

"It is not an excuse but an explanation about why she did it," Schaeffer told the Enquirer. "It is an addiction. She is a victim of the casino addiction. Addictions are addictions whether it is alcohol or pornography or gambling. They all fall into the same category and addictions are hard to deal with.

"She is highly remorseful and upset with herself. She loved her job and it has ruined her career."

The investigation was first begun in September 2017 when a complaint was made to Michigan State Police in Marshall after the five-member board found irregularities.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Inspector General, and the Michigan State Police, with computer forensic examination assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. O’Connor prosecuted the case.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge said in a statement that, “Bronson stole not only from her loyal employer, but from the Calhoun County community and taxpayers. As a result of her selfish breach of trust, CCD has struggled to pay its bills and fulfill its important mission for future generations. Combating financial fraud such as this serious embezzlement – particularly when it involves taxpayer money and vulnerable victims – remains a priority of federal law enforcement.”

"I am glad its over," said conservation district Chairman Gregory Fountain. "But we have a long road to get back to 'go', so to speak. I just wish it hadn't happened."

Fountain said not only was the money taken but that the reputation of the agency has suffered and it will be more difficult to obtain grant money from the state and federal governments for programs and projects.

"Our reputation is zilch," he said. "And we are out $500,000 and that bites too. We are dependent on future grants."

Fountain said he doubts the agency will see the money returned and Schaeffer acknowledged there is little expectation that she can pay the money ordered as restitution.

Fountain said the agency will have to prove to obtain future grants that they have made changes to protect against future thefts. At the same time the conservation district has lost employees and must try to move ahead without some of the agency's institutional knowledge making the work more difficult and time consuming.

"And we are having problems hiring people," he said, because the agency has been tainted by the investigation.

And he said the board is left unsatisfied by the conviction and sentencing of Bronson. "It doesn't get the money back and it doesn't repair the damage to our reputation."

Contact Trace Christenson at 269-966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson